8/26/2018

About a month ago, I passed along a CNN story claiming that Michael Cohen had information that Donald Trump knew about the infamous Trump Tower meeting in advance. I included a note of caution in the post:

Cohen is hardly Mr. Credibility, and the “sources” relied upon say he doesn’t have evidence.

But, I stated (and still believe — see below) that of course Trump knew about the meeting in advance.

It’s now being reported that the source for the stories, Lanny Davis, is recanting:

CNN reported last month that Cohen was claiming to have witnessed Trump being informed of the Russians’ offer by Trump Jr. and that the then-candidate approved the meeting.

The following day, The Post reported that Cohen had told associates that he witnessed an exchange in which Trump Jr. told his father about an upcoming gathering in which he expected to get information about Clinton. The Post did not report that Trump Jr. told his father that the information was coming from Russians.

The information in the Post story, which was attributed to one person familiar with discussions among Cohen’s friends, came from Davis, who is now acknowledging his role on the record.

Davis said he should not have expressed such confidence in his information.

“I should have been more clear — including with you — that I could not independently confirm what happened,” Davis said, adding: “I regret my error.”

Having passed along the original story — even with the cautionary language — I think it’s incumbent on me to pass along this retraction.

That said:

Did Trump know about the meeting in advance?

Well of course he did.

You don’t need a questionable anonymously sourced news story to know that. All you need is your common sense.

It is the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. The title of today’s Bach cantata is “Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen” (I go forth and seek with longing).

Today’s Gospel reading is John 6:56-69, which continues the theme of the last two weeks: Jesus as the bread of life. Apparently it didn’t go over well with everyone.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

The text of today’s piece is available here. The second recitative (section 5) contains these words of joy in accepting the invitation to the holy banquet of redemption:

How happy I am!
Heaven is raised up for me:
Majesty itself calls and sends its servants,
so that the fallen race
in the hall of heaven
at the banquet of redemption
might be a guest,
here I come, Jesus, let me in!

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